Coupling system for removable or detachable handles of various utensils, in particular pots, pans and the like

ABSTRACT

A coupling system for removable handles of pots, pans and the like comprises the following basic elements: a support bracket ( 2 ) designed to support or receive the handle in various ways, which can also be a handgrip or any other gripping element designed for the same purpose; a housing ( 4 ) cut into said bracket ( 2 ) designed to accomodate a pin ( 5 ) whose rotation shaft ( 6 ) is excentric and supports an arm ( 7 ) which turns in an angular fashion, or a central lever or other element designed for the same purpose; a fixed stricker element ( 8 ) integral with said bracket and designed to form a coupling housing in which the edge of the pan ( 11 ), for example a gudgeon, are inserted; if necessary, a block ( 9 ) operated by the eccentric pin and the arm, allowing rotation of the pin, said block being designed to allow gripping of the edge of the pan (or the elements which protrude from it, e.g. a gudgeon) without any friction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application proposes a coupling system for removable ordetachable handles of various utensils, in particular pots, pans andcontainers in general for heating or cooking food.

This is a new concept which makes it possible to attach removable typehandles to pots, pans and the like, to satisfy practical requirements inthe use of these containers, in other words first of all theinterchangeability of the pieces with at least two advantageousconsequences: the possibility of using the same handles for various pansand the possibility of storing the containers without their handles, inorder to save space which is well-known to be at a premium in kitchens,for example if necessary to store the container in a refrigerator, orfor cooking in the oven or during dishwashing.

BACKGROUND ART

With respect to the know solutions, this system offers the substantialadvantage of simplicity in the manufacture and use of the removablehandles, with consequent simplification of the production processes.

In the household articles sector, particularly as far as containers forcooking are concerned, the need exists to produce pots, pans orcontainers in general with certain contrivances that make them highlyfunctional, at least from the point of view of safety during cookingand, no less important, of practicality in us.

The need has recently arisen in this sector to produce removable ordetachable handles, and a number of products have been presented on themarket which foresee the possibility of using interchangeable handles,although, to date, the solutions developed are in some cases impracticaland in others so complicated and costly as to make them unacceptable orin any case inadequate.

In some cases, in fact, the interchangeable handles merely foresee theuse of blocking systems by means of screws, while in other cases somefirms have developed more advanced systems which foresee the possibilityof attaching the handle to the edge of the pan by the use of grippertype systems, or by constructing a sliding coupling that moves away fromor towards the body of the handle by means of levers which may bespring-operated.

These are, nevertheless, solutions which in the first case are difficultto use, requiring the use of screws or bolts, while in the second casecomplex and costly mechanical parts have to be produced that must beadapted to the shape of the handle, with production costs that are oftenexcessive.

FR-A-1501026 for example, describes a detachable handle for cookingutensils comprising a handgrip in which is housed a flowing rod endingwith a broadened part jutting out the handgrip and suited to joint athin plate of the utensil to handle. Said handle comprises also amovable lever which is connected to the flowing rod to control theposition of the broadened part in relation to the head of the handgripand allowing in this way to fasten and release the thin plate of theutensil.

Furthermore WO-A-00/21422 describes a removable coupling between ahandle and a pan comprising a first member fixed to the pan and a secondmember fixed to the handle. The first member comprises a project bracketwith a hole therein and the second member comprises a tongue to beinserted in the said hole to lie parallel with and beneath the bracket.A cam member is present in the second member and is rotatable towards alocking position to press with its first cam surface on the edge of saidhole to scarf the bracket between the first cam surface and a facingprojection of the second member.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,006 describes a detachable handleapparatus for connection with an object having an integral extensionextending therefrom, said handle apparatus including a handle portionwhich is secured with respect to the extension by means of a clampingmember pivotally connected with respect to the handle portion andadapted to be cammed into a locking engagement with the extension bymeans of a locking lever connected with respect to said handle portionfor pivotal movement in a horizontal plane.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to provide a coupling system for removableor detachable handles for various utensils, in particular for pots, pansand containers in general, that can overcome the above-mentioneddrawbacks, through the implementation of a new mechanical principle inthis sector, i.e. an eccentric system.

The immediate advantage of this new concept lies in the constructionsimplicity of the pieces and of their offer for sale at limited costs.

Another advantage of this invention is that it lends itself to numerousvariations and solutions that can be adapted to different types of potsand pans, of all the models and shapes on the market, in other words thetraditional types commonly used in this sector.

The aims and advantages indicated above are all achieved, according tothis invention, by means of a coupling system for removable ordetachable handles for various utensils, in particular pots, pans andcontainers in general, for example of the type for heating or cookingfood, characterised in that for the application and fixing of saidhandles on the pan a blocking system with eccentric pins, cams or thelike is used, operated by means of angular movement arms, and in thatsaid cam or eccentric pin systems acts directly on the edge of the panor on its coupling means with respect to a fixed striker means, or byoperating a block or blocking element for gripping the edge of the pan,countering a fixed striker element.

ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS

Additional features and details of the invention will be betterunderstood from the description which follows, given as a non-bindingexample, referring to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a cross section of the coupling system according tothe invention in a preferred construction example in closing position,or of the coupling type for a vertical wall, in the version with ablock, which may also be omitted;

FIG. 2 shows the coupling device according to the invention in theopening position;

FIG. 3 shows a first construction variation of the coupling deviceaccording to the invention, in which the edge of the pan is thehorizontal type, and the eccentric coupling system causes verticalsliding with the block;

FIG. 4 shows the coupling system according to the variation in FIG. 3 inthe open position;

FIG. 5 shows a second construction variation of the coupling deviceaccording to the invention with an eccentric pin type coupling whichcouples a gudgeon type element with recess without a block;

FIG. 6 shows the variation of the preceding figure with a flat gudgeonwithout recess without a block;

FIG. 7 shows a gripper element according to the invention in a versionwith a double gudgeon gripper unit without a block;

FIGS. 5 a, 6 a and 7 a are views of the three preceding figures, but inthis case equipped with a block;

FIG. 8 is the cross-section view of a version of the coupling system inwhich the eccentric pin is coupled to a piston which moves towards andaway from the edge of the pan;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show versions of the coupling system in which theeccentric pin has a vertical axis;

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a version in which the eccentric pin counters aspring striker element;

FIGS. 13, 13 a, 13 b and 14, 14 a, 14 b show versions which use,respectively, spring and eccentric pin safety means that use aprotruding tooth or the like.

ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS

Additional features and details of the invention will be betterunderstood from the description which follows, given as a non-bindingexample, referring to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a cross section of the coupling system according tothe invention in a preferred construction example in closing position,or of the coupling type for a vertical wall, in the version with ablock, which may also be omitted;

FIG. 2 shows the coupling device according to the invention in theopening position;

FIG. 3 shows a first construction variation of the coupling deviceaccording to the invention, in which the edge of the pan is thehorizontal type, and the eccentric coupling system causes verticalsliding with the block;

FIG. 4 shows the coupling system according to the variation in FIG. 3 inthe open position;

FIG. 5 shows a second construction variation of the coupling deviceaccording to the invention with an eccentric pin type coupling whichcouples a gudgeon type element with recess without a block;

FIG. 6 shows the variation of the preceding figure with a flat gudgeonwithout recess without a block;

FIG. 7 shows a gripper element according to the invention in a versionwith a double gudgeon gripper unit without a block;

FIGS. 5 a, 6 a and 7 a are views of the three preceding figures, but inthis case equipped with a block;

FIG. 8 is the cross-section view of a version of the coupling system inwhich the eccentric pin is coupled to a piston which moves towards andaway from the edge of the pan;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show versions of the coupling system in which theeccentric pin has a vertical axis;

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a version in which the eccentric pin counters aspring striker element;

FIGS. 13, 13 a, 13 b and 14, 14 a, 14 b show versions which use,respectively, spring and eccentric pin safety means that use aprotruding tooth or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME FORMS OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached figures, 1 indicates the completecoupling element according to the invention, which according to a firstpreferred version comprises the following basic elements:

-   -   a support bracket 2 with a configuration designed to support or        receive the handle 3 in various ways which can also be        represented by any other gripping element designed for the same        purpose;    -   a housing 4 cut into said bracket and designed to accommodate a        pin 5 whose rotation shaft 6 is decentralised and supports an        arm 7 that turns in an angular fashion;    -   a fixed striker element 8 integral with said bracket 2 and        designed to form a housing in which the edge of the pan is        inserted;    -   if necessary, a block 9 operated by the eccentric pin 5 and the        arm 7, which allows rotation of said pin, said block being        designed to allow gripping of the edge of the pan without any        friction.

In the example illustrated in the figure, the handle 3 is fixed to thebracket 2 by means of the usual screw type blocking means 10 or by othersystems designed for the same purpose.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, blocking of the handle on the vertical edge 11of the pan is achieved by positioning the support bracket 2 over theedge of the pan while the arm 7 is in the completely raised position inorder to obtain maximum opening between the block 9 and the fixedstriker plate 8.

It is now sufficient to lower the arm 7 so that the eccentric pin 5turns and moves the block 9 forward towards the striker 8, so that theedge of the pan is blocked as in a vice.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a first variation in which the edge of the panprotrudes horizontally, meaning that the coupling system will also bethe horizontal type. In this case, in fact, the horizontal edge 12 ofthe pan is gripped by the block 9, which in this case moves verticallyrather than horizontally, while still being operated by the sameeccentric pin 5.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show some possible variations of the coupling systemaccording to this invention, bearing in mind that other couplingsolutions are possible, all based on the use of an eccentric pin.

FIG. 5 represents a construction example in which the eccentric pin 5operates without the use of the block 9, and in this case the blockingof the bracket 2 is achieved by means of a gudgeon 13, normally presenton traditional pots and pans, thus offering the possibility of applyingthis system to existing pots and pans.

While in FIG. 5 the gudgeon is the type with a recess, FIG. 6 shows aflat gudgeon without recess.

FIG. 7 shows a solution in which the handle 3 is fitted to the bracket 2by means of a “universal” coupling system, to which most handles can beadapted.

In this case, the bracket 2 comprises a coupling equipped with an innergudgeon 14 which makes it possible to use the majority of handlesnormally produced and currently on the market, thus offering thepossibility of adapting the universal coupling to the various styles andshapes of handles or handgrips, with the lines and designscharacteristic to each manufacturer.

The arm 7, which in the example illustrated is the tubular arched type,can also be produced in any other shape appropriate to the same purpose,and positioned in the upper or lower part of the handle, or with acentral lever or the like.

FIG. 8 shows a coupling version in which the eccentric pin is coupled toa piston which moves towards and away from the edge of the pan.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show coupling versions in which the eccentric pin has avertical axis.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a version in which the eccentric pin operates bycountering a spring striker element.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show versions which use, respectively, spring andeccentric pin safety means which have a protruding tooth or the like.

Finally, it should be borne in mind that:

-   -   the fixed striker element can be adjusted to adapt to various        thicknesses and shapes of the pan edge or the item to be        coupled;    -   the use of safety measures is foreseen, to prevent accidental        uncoupling;    -   the positioning of the eccentric pin axis must be calculated so        as to prevent return to the open position.

Sector experts will be able to foresee further construction variations,for example in relation to the shape and size of the pan coupling partor to the shape of the handle coupling part, or also to the shape andsize of the arm 7, obtaining solutions which, if based on the use of aneccentric fixing pin, can be considered as part of this invention,defined in the following claims.

1. A removable or detachable handle for a utensil, the utensilcomprising a coupling element, the handle comprising a blocking systemwith an eccentric pin, said blocking system operated by means of armsmoving in an angular fashion or central levers, wherein said eccentricpin directly operates on the coupling element of the utensil by pushingsaid coupling element against a fixed striker element, or indirectlyoperates on the coupling element by operating a blocking element forgripping the edge of the utensil, in opposition to the fixed strikerelement.
 2. A coupling system for a removable handle of a utensil,comprising the following elements: a support bracket designed to supportor receive the handle in various ways, which can also be a handgrip orany other gripping element designed for the same purpose; a housing cutinto said bracket designed to accommodate a pin whose rotation shaft iseccentric and supports an arm which turns in an angular fashion, or acentral lever or other element designed for the same purpose; a fixedstriker element integral with said bracket and designed to form acoupling housing in which the edge of the utensil or elements protrudingfrom the utensil are inserted.
 3. A coupling system according to claim2, wherein it further comprises a block operated by the eccentric pinand the arm, allowing rotation of the pin, said block being suitable forallowing the edge of the utensil, or the elements protruding from theutensil being gripped without any friction.
 4. A coupling system forremovable handles according to claim 2, wherein said handle is fixed tothe support bracket by the usual screw type blocking means or othersystems designed for the same purpose.
 5. A coupling system forremovable handles according to claim 2, wherein the blocking of thehandle on the vertical edge of the utensil is achieved by positioningthe support bracket over the edge of the utensil while the arm is in thecompletely raised position in order to obtain maximum opening betweenthe lock and the fixed striker plate.
 6. A coupling system for removablehandles according to claim 2, wherein if the edge of the utensilprotrudes horizontally then the coupling system is also horizontal, andin this case the horizontal edge of the utensil is gripped by the block,which this time moves vertically rather horizontally, while it is stilloperated by the same eccentric pin.
 7. A coupling system for removablehandles according to claim 2, wherein the eccentric pin can also operatewithout the use of said block.
 8. A coupling system for removablehandles according to claim 2, wherein the bracket can also be blocked onthe elements protruding from the utensil normally present on traditionalutensils, thus offering the possibility of using the system on existingutensils.
 9. A coupling system for removable handles according to claim2, wherein the handle can be fitted to the bracket by means of a“universal” coupling, to which a majority of shapes adapt.
 10. Acoupling system for removable handles according to claim 8, wherein thebracket comprises a coupling equipped with an inner gudgeon allowing amajority of handles normally produced to be used, thus offering thepossibility of adapting the coupling to various styles and shapes ofhandles or handgrips, with lines and designs characteristic to eachmanufacturer.
 11. A coupling system for removable handles according toclaim 2, wherein the fixed striker element can be adjusted to adapt tovarious thicknesses and shapes of the utensil.
 12. A coupling system forremovable handles according to claim 2 further comprising safetymeasures to prevent accidental uncoupling.
 13. A coupling system forremovable handles according to claim 2, wherein positioning of theeccentric pin axis must be calculated in such a way as to prevent areturn to the open position.
 14. The handle of claim 1, wherein theutensil is chosen from the group consisting of pots, pans, food heatingcontainers, and food cooking containers.
 15. The handle of claim 1,wherein the coupling element of the utensil is an edge of the utensil.16. The coupling system of claim 2 or 3, wherein the elements protrudingfrom the pan comprise a gudgeon.
 17. The coupling system of claim 2,wherein the utensil is chosen from the group consisting of pots, pans,food heating containers, and food cooking containers.